39 



>1 



&\oMei-\Me^1 lay ^i 

3i*S^. o^ Column W\c 



Glass 




Book_i y vS 7 ^ - 



AN ACT 



PROVIl)IN(i A 



PEHMANiT Fill OF GO! ERf 




FOR THE 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. : 
Printed ky Jri)]) & Detweiler. 

1882. 



'11 



1 



INDEX. 



A. 

I'ago. 

Accounts settled in Treasury Department 13 

Advertising for proposals 13 

Agricultural lands, rate of taxation on 12 

Appointed, two civil Commissioners 7 

Appropriations by Congress, payment one-half of esti- 
mates 11, 12 

Assessors' duties prescribed by Commissioners 13 

Assessments, how made and equalized 12 

B. 

Board of Health abolished 17 

Metropolitan Police abolished 17 

Trustees of Public Schools abolished 17 

Appointed 17 

Sinking-Fund Commissioners abolished 17 

Bonds of Contractors, how approved 14 

for execution of contracts 15 

to keep work in repair for five years 15 

8.65, interest, how paid 13 

C. 

Clerks to Health-OfRcer, number, and how appointed 18 

to be fixed by Commissioners, salaries of ; 10 

Collector of Taxes, duties prescribed by Commissioners. 13 

to give notice of payment 12 

Commissioners Dist. of Col., present, cease 9 

how, civil, appointed 7 

officer detailed S 

civil, residents of District 8 

take oath of office 8 

civil, give bonds :_ 8 

detailed 8 

civil, term of office of 8 

shall choose president 8 

disqualified as bondsmen 9 

taxes and revenues applied to current expenses bv_ '.i 
taxes and revenues applied to support of public 

schools by 

taxes and revenues applied to support of Fire De- 
partment by 9 

shall take possession of public property, offices, 

books, «fec 9 



Sop 


. Par. 


4 


3 


5 


1 


3 


20 


2 


1 


3 


10,17 


4 


1 


O 


18 



8 


- 





1 


(i 


1 





2 




- 


5 


8 


5 


8 


5 


9 


4 


4 



10 


- 


11 




4 




3 


21 


3 




2 




2 


3 


2 


4 


2 


G 


2 


7 


2 


3 


2 


8 


2 


5 


2 


9 


3 


2 



Page. Sec. Par. 
Commissioners of Dist. of Col., power to make contracts 

limited to contracts authorized by law and ap- 
proved by Congress 9 

contracts for public works require assent of all 14 

shall locate hack-stands 9 

shall collect all lawful taxes 10 

shall not anticipate taxes 10 

maj'^ make loan for current year 10 

powers as to officers and employees 10 

maintain lamps beyond city limits 10 

itemized estimates made by 11 

submit estimates to Secretary of Treasury 11 

transmit their estimates and estimates of Secretary 

to Congress 11 

prescribe time of payment of taxes 13 

prescribe duties of Assessors 13 

prescribe duties of Collector of Taxes 13 

certify vouchers 13 

accounts settled by Treasury Department 13 

advertise for construction and repair of public 

works 13 

may reject all proposals 14 

sign and record contracts 14 

approve contractor's bonds 14 

draw warrants for costs of public works 15 

to issue certificates of indebtedness against street 

railroads, when 16 

costs not paid by street railroad, property sold 16 

see that water aud gas-mains and pipes are laid, 

when 16 

appoint Trustees of Public Schools 17 

appoint Health-Officer 18 

prescribe duty of Health-Officer 18 

appoint sanitary inspectors 18 

appoint clerks for Health-Officer 18 

adjust salaries of cleriis for Health-Officer 19 

report draft of laws to Congress 19 

report annually their doings to Congress 19 

Compensation of Civil Commissioners 8 

Health-Officer 18 

Sanitary Inspectors 19 

Clerks of Health-Officer 19 

Contracts, proposals for, how advertised 13, 14 

shall cover entire work, when 14 

require unanimous assent of Commissioners 14 

must be signed and recorded 14 

invalid unless signed and recorded 14 



3 


3 


5 


5 


3 


4 


3 


6 


3 


7 


3 


8 


3 


9 


3 


10 


3 


13 


3 


12 


3 


15 


4 


1 


4 


1 


4 


1 


4 


2 


4 


3 


5 


1 


5 


3 


5 


r. 


5 


8 


5 


14 


5 


16 


5 


17 


5 


19 


6 


2 


8 


- 


8 


- 


9 


1 


10 


- 


11 


3 


12 


1 


12 


o 


2 


7 


11 


1 


11 


2 


11 


3 


5 


1 


5 


4 


5 


5 


5 


6 


•5 


6 



SE 



^ 1908 

i«ora 



13 


5 


1 


11 


3 


13 


11 


3 


13 



7 


1 


3 


7 


1 


2 


18 


9 


1 


.- 


2 


1 




5 


21 




3 


13 




o 


15 




o 


If. 




O 


IG 


11^ 


3 


17 



V;\jiQ Sc<.'. Par. 
Corporation, District of Columbia, remain a municipal. 7 13 
Cost of construction and repairs of public works adver- 
tised 

of proposed public works 

of public institutions 

D. 

District of Columbia a municipal corporation 

how governed 

Drainage 

E. 

Engineer OflBcer detailed as one Commissioner 

two detailed subordinate to Military Commissioner 

Estimates, itemized, made by Commissioners 

approved by Secretary of Treasury 

approved by Congress 

one-half paid by United States 

one-half paid by District 

F. 
Fire Department supported by Commissioners 9 3 2 

G. 

Gas-Light Companj-, Washington 17 5 20 

to lay their mains and pipes 17 5 20 

Gas-mains and pipes laid, when and how 16 5 19 

H. 

Hack-stands established by Commissioners 9 3 4 

penalty for violating orders in reference to, and 
how enforced 

Health, Board of, abolished 

Officer appointed 

qualification and duties of 

duties of, prescribed by Commissioners 

shall have control of Sanitary Inspectors 

control clerks of 

shall make annual report to Commissioners 

I. 

Inspectors, Sanitary, appointed by Commissioners 18 9 1 

number, qualification, duties 18 9 1 

shall make reports semi-monthly to Health-Officer 18 9 2 

Interest on taxes, rate of 12 3 23 



10 


3 


18 


8 


18 


8 


18 


8 


18 


8 


18 


9 


18 


10 


18 


9 



4 



Laws now existing in force in District 7 1 

shall be drafted by Commissioners for Congress.- ■ 19 12 

Lamps and lights maintained beyond city limits 10 8 

Liens of taxes enforced, how 12 3 

O. 

Oath of office of Commissioners 8 2 

Officer, Engineer, detailed as Commissioner 7 2 

two assistant, for Military Commissioner 17 5 

Official term of Civil Commissioners 8 2 

Officers of District disqualified as bondsmen 2 

Offices may be consolidated or abolished 10 3 

P. 

Penalties for violation of Rules for hack-stands 10 3 

increasing debt of District 19 13 

are saved to the District 10 3 

President of United States to detail Military Commis- 
sioner 7 2 

Engineer's subordinates 17 5 

appoint Civil Commissioners 7 2 

Police Commissioners abolished 17 6 

department supported by Commissioners 9 3 

Property sold for taxes 12 3 

redeemed when sold 12 3 

rate of taxes on, when in cities 12 8 

agricultural 12 3 

Public works, bond to keep in repair 15 5 

cost ef, how paid 15 5 

proposals for, to be advertised IS 5 

warrants for payments for, drawn by Commis- 
sioners 15 5 

proposals for construction and repairs of, to be ad- 
vertised 13 5 

when to be advertised in Washington 13 5 

when to be advertised elsewhere 13 5 

of lowest bidder for, to be accepted 14 5 

proposals for, may be disregarded by Commis- 
sioners 14 5 

when proposals for, to be done under one contract 

only 14 5 

all contracts for, to be assented to by all Commis- 
sioners 14 5 

contracts for, to be signed and recorded 14 5 

invalid, unless signed and recorded 14 5 



Par. 
2 

1 

10 
18 



6 

1 

21 

8 
9 
9 



2 
11 

1 
21 
1 
1 
2 

18 
18 
19 
20 

'J 
11 

1 

14 

1 
1 
1 

2 

3 

4 

5 
6 
6 



I'aj;e. Sec. Par. 
Public works, work and material for, to be of best known 

kind 14 5 7 

ten per cent, of cost of, retained to secure repairs, 15 5 10 

cost of, how paid 15 5 11-14 

shall continue under control of United States, 

when -_ 11 3 14 

water and gas-mains and pipes, when to be laid.- 16 5 in 



R. 

liedemptioii of property sold for taxes ._ 12 

Report estimates to Congress, Commissioners to 11 

annually to Congress, Commissioners 1!» 

Health-Officer to, to Commissioners 18 

of Sanitary Inspectors to Health-OtScer 18 

Revenue shall be applied to current expenses 9 

S. 

Sanitary Inspectors appointed, number, qualification, and 

duties 18 

shall make reports 18 

Secretary of Treasury shall receive estimates of Com- 
missioners 11 

shall revise estimates, and return to Commis- 
sioners 11 

shall pay interest on 3.65 bonds on warrant of 

Commissioners 13 

Sewers, cost of construction and repairs of 13, 14 

Street railway companies pave their tracks, &c 15 

neglecting to pave tracks, done by District ^_ 16 

refuse to pay costs. Commissioners issue certifi- 
cates of indebtedness against property 16 

certificates not paid, property sold 10 

may use cobble-stone or Belgian block, as Com- 
missioners may direct 15 

Schools, Public, supported by Commissioners 9 

property, act in reference to, construed and ap- 
plied 10,20 

Suits pending not to abate 10 

T. 

Taxes, how applied 9 

to be collected 10 

not to be anticipated 10 

assessed and collected, how 12 

rate of, on property in cities 12 



3 


18 


3 


15 


2 


2 


9 


3 


9 


2 


o 


•> 



9 


1 
2 


3 


12 


3 


15 


4 


4 


5 


1-3 


5 


11 


5 


15 


5 


16 


5 


17 


5 


12 


3 


2 


14 


1-3 


3 


11 



3 


2 


3 


6 


3 


7 


3 


18 


3 


19 



6 

Page. 

Taxes, agricultural i)roperty 12 

property sold for delinquent 12 

how redeemed 12 

enforcement of liens for 12 

if paid in 30 days, deduction made 12 

interest on, under act of March 3, 1877 12 

under act of March 3, 1877, paid, when 12 

time for payment of, fixed by Commissioners 13 

on personal property in the District not taxed else- 
where 12 

what, and how assessed, on agricultural lands 12 

paid by District into Treasury of the United States 13 

disbursed on itemized vouchers 13 

school property exempt from 19,20 

Trustees of Public Schools, number and appointment 17 

to serve without compensation 17 

Tracks of railroads to conform to grades of streets at 

crossings 10 5 18 

V. 

Ventilation 18 9 1 

W. 

Washington Gas-Light Company to lay gas-mains, pipes, 

&c. 17 5 20 

Water-mains, pipes, &c., to be laid, when IG 5 19 



Sec. 


Par; 


3 


20 


3 


18 


3 


18 


3 


18 


3 


22 




23 


3 


23 


4 


1 


3 


10 


3 


20 


4 


2 


4 


2 


14 


1-3 


6 


2 


6 


2 



AN ACT 

PROVIDING A PERMANENT FORxM OF GOVERN- 
MENT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



SECTION 1. 

1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Eepi'csen- 'pVstTictoico- 
tative.'< of the United States of America in Congress as- 
sembled, That all the territory which was ceded by tlie 

State of Maryland to the Congress of the United States 
for the permanent seat of the government of the United 
States shall continue to be designated as the District of 
Columbia. 

2. Said District and the property and persons that Housovomo,!. 
may be therein shall be subject to the following provisions 

for the government of the same, and also to any existing 
laws applicable thereto not hereby repealed or inconsis- 
tent with the provisions of this act. 

3. The District of Columbia shall remain and continue a municipal 

.., ,. .,,. ., ^ corporation. 

a municipal corporation, as provided in section two oi commission- 
the Revised Statutes relating to said District, and the iMstrict^ 
Commissioners herein provided for shall be deemed and 
taken as officers of such corporation ; 

4. And all laws now in force relating to the District i^aws oonUn- 

o ued in lorcc. 

of Columbia not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
act shall remain in full force and effect. 

SECTION 2. 

1. That within twenty days after the approval of this Two citizens 

•I •> i 1 and omcer oi 

act, the President of the United States, by and with the f^nsjineers an- 
advice and consent of the Senate, is hereby authorized (leiaiici. 
to appoint two persons, who, with an officer of the Corps 
of Engineers of the United States Army, whose lineal 
rank shall be above that of captain, shall be Commis- 
sioners of the District of Cohnnbia, 



8 
^"r**",'' ?", J?*^' 2. And who, from and after July first, eighteen hun- 

Jnly 1, ISTS. ' J ^ J o 

dred and seventy -eight, shall exercise all the powers 
and authority now vested in the Commissioners of said 
District, except as are hereinafter limited or provided, 
and shall be subject to all restrictions and limitations 
and duties which are now imposed upon said Commis- 
sioners. 
Officer detaiie.i 3 -phe Commissioner who shall be an officer detailed. 

to periorm no 

other duty. fj.Qm ^j^^g ^q time, from the Corps of Engineers, by the 

Kei^eive only ' 1 a ' j 

offi e^^ ^"^ ^" President, for this duty, shall not be required to perform 
any other, nor shall he receive any other compensation 
than his regular pay and allowances as an officer of the 
Army. 

^of pers^dnLap- ^- ^be two pcrsons appointed from civil life shall, at 
pointed. ^i^g (.jnjig of ^ijgjj. appointment, be citizens of the United 
States, and shall have been actual residents of the 
District of Columbia for three years next before their 
appointment, and have, during that period, claimed 
residence nowhere else. 

Commissioners 5. And One of Said three Commissioners shall be 

slifil 1 dcot ti 

president. choscu president of the Board of Commissioners at 
their first meeting, and annually and whenever a vacancy 
shall occur, thereafter ; 

^'Ifath'of office. 6. And said Commissioners shall each of them, before 
entering upon the discharge of his duties, take an oath 
or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United 
States, and to faithfully discharge the duties imposed 
upon him by law ; 

Compensation 7. And Said Commissioners appointed from civil life, 

missTonei^!" shall cach receive for his services a compensation at 

the rate of five thousand dollars per annum, and shall. 

Give bonds. before entering upon the duties of the office, each give 
bond in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, with surety 
as is required by existing law. 

Term of office 8. The official term of said Commissioners appointed 
missionei^!" from civil life shall be three years, and until their suc- 
cessors are appointed and qualified ; but the first appoint- 
ment shall be one Commissioner for one year and one 
for two years, and at the expiration of their respective 
terms their successors shall be appointed for three years. 



9 

!). Xeither of said Coniniissiouers, uor auv officer 'omini.ssioners 
wliutsoever of the District of Columbia, shall be ac- 'li'^qi'.aiified 

' as bail. 

ci'pted as surety upon any bond required to be given to 
the District of Columbia ; 

10. Nor shall any contractor be accepted as surety ^7,S?c?af ''" 
for any officer or other contractor in said District. ''*'''■ 

SECTION 3. 

1. That as soon as the Commissioners appointed and ^'I'^^essors^of 
detailed as aforesaid shall have taken and subscribed ^;';,y^ffmi'c- 
the oath or affirmation hereinbefore required, all the Vu"^'''^'n8th 
powers, rights, duties, and privileges lawfully exercised |^tias.,ii(;,soc. 
by, and all property, estate, and effects now vested by 

law in the Commissioners appointed under the provisions 
of the act of Congress approved June twentieth, eighteen 
hundred and seventy-four, shall be transferred to and 
vested in and imposed upon said Commissioners ; and 
the functions of the Commissioners so appointed under 
the act of June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
four, shall cease and determine; 

2. And the Commissioners of the District of Colura- powers and du- 
bia shall have power, subject to the limitation and pro- m1ssione?s!"' 
visions herein contained, to apply the taxes or other 
revenues of said District to the payment of the current 
expenses thereof, to the support of the public schools, 

the fire department, and the police, and for that purpose 
shall take possession and supervision of all the offices, 
books, papers, records, moneys, credits, securities, assets, 
and accounts belonging or appertaining to the business 
or interests of the government of the District of Colum- 
bia, and exercise the duties, powers, and authority afore- 
said; 

3. But said Commissioners, in the exercise of such Limitation of 

. 1 1 • 1 n 1 powers to cou- 

duties, powers, and authority, shall make no contract, tract. 
nor incur any obligation other than such contracts and 
obligations as are hereinafter provided for and shall be 
approved by Congress. 

4. The Commissioners shall have power to locate the power o\ 

places where hacks shall stand and change them as often 

as the public interests require, 
o 



cr 
lack siands. 



10 
Penalty for vio- 5 j\^uy persou violating- auv orders lawfully made in 

latmg orders •' ^ o j j 

in references pursuance of this power shall be subject to a fine of not 
less than ten nor more than one hundred dollars, to be 
recovered before any justice of the peace in an action 
in the name of the Commissioners. 

Lawful taxes to 6. All taxes heretofore lawfully assessed and due, or 

be collected. •' 

to become due, shall be collected pursuant to law, ex- 
cept as herein otherwise provided ; 

'^be^anticipat'?' '''• ^"^ ^^^^ Commissioners shall have no power to 
^^- anticipate taxes by a sale or hypothecation of any such 

taxes or evidences thereof, 

^1200,00'°"' ^- ^"t they may borrow, for the first fiscal year after 

this act takes effect, in anticipation of collection of rev- 
enue, not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars, at a 
rate of interest not exceeding five per centum per an- 
num, which shall be repaid out of the revenues of that 
year. 

Power over of- 9 ^^^ g^id Commissioners are hereby authorized to 

nees and em- 
ployees, abolish any office, to consolidate two or more offices, re- 
duce the number of employees, remove from office, and 
make appointments to any office under them authorized 
by law ; 

Power to main- IQ. Said Commissioners shall have power to erect, 

tarn lamps out . . . 

of city limits, light, and maintain lamp-posts, with lamps, outside of 
the city limits, when, in their judgment, it shall be 
deemed proper or necessary : 

All rights under 11. Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall 
saved. be coustrucd to abate in any wise or interfere with any 

suit pending in favor of or against the District of Colum- 
bia, or the Commissioners thereof, or affect any right, 
penalty, forfeiture, or cause of action existing in favor 
of said District Commissioners, or any citizen of the 
District of Columbia, or any other person, but the same 
may be commenced, proceeded for, or prosecuted to 
final judgment, and the corporation shall be bound 
thereby as if the suit had been originally commenced 
for or against said corpoi-atiou. 



12. The said Commissioners shall submit to the Sec- •^'i^'iir''i""A^*''- 

iiriidtGs to 

retary of the Treasury for the fiscal year eudiug Juue |^.eaMu'v 
thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seveuty-uiue, and an- 
nually thereafter, for his examination and approval, a 
statement showing in detail the work proposed to be 
undertaken by them during the fiscal year next ensuing, 
and the estimated cost thereof; 

13. Also the cost of constructing, repairing, and main- shaii submit es- 

<=' 1 o' timatos for 

taiuiug all bridges authorized bv law across the Potomac bi;i'iK«'f=.char- 
River within the District of Columbia, and also all other 
streams in said District ; the cost of maintaining all 
public institutions of charity, reformatories, and prisons 
belonging to or controlled wholly or in part by the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, and which are now by law supported 
wholly or in part by the United States or District of 
Columbia ; and also the expenses of the Washington 
Aqueduct and its appurtenances ; and also an itemized 
statement and estimate of the amount necessary to de- 
fray the expenses of the government of the District of 
Columbia for the next fiscal year : 

14. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be ^'"i*,''^ states 
construed as transferring from the United States au- Present con- 

^ trol of public 

thorities any of the public works within the District of ^t-i^s. 
Columbia now in the control or supervision of said au- 
thorities. 

15. The Secretary of the Treasury shall carefully .see. Treasury 
consider all estimates submitted to him as above pro- matet "^ ' 
vided, and shall approve, disapprove, or suggest such 
changes in the same, or any item thereof, as he may 

think the public interest demands ; and after he shall 

have considered and passed upon such estimates submitted 

to him, he shall cause to be made a statement of the amount 

approved by him and the fund or purpose to which each 

item belongs, which statement shall be certified by him, 

and delivered, together with the estimates as originally 

submitted, to the Commissioners of the District of Col- t^ommif ion.«i-s 

umbia, who shall transmit the same to Congress "'*'®* *'° ^''"■ 

o grass. 

16. To the extent to which Congress shall approve oi congress ap- 
said estimates. Congress shall appropriate the amount ot oneTa/t^ 
fifty per centum thereof; 



12 

nn, -iiaiipaid jj j^^^ the remaining fifty i)er ceu turn of such ap- 

by taxation. a J i i 

proved estimates shall be levied and assessed upon the 
taxable property and privileges in said District other 
than the property of the United States and of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia ; 

How taxes as- ;[§^ ^mj ^H proceedings in the assessing, equalizing, 

sessed and ^ ® c i c) 

collected. and levying of said taxes, the collection thereof, the 
listing return and penalty for taxes in arrears, the 
advertising for sale and the sale of property for delin- 
quent taxes, the redemption thereof, the proceedings to 
enforce the lein upon unredeemed property, and every 
Act March 3, other act and thing now required to be done in the 
see's. 5-10.) 1 ' premises, shall be done and performed at the times and 
in the manner now provided by law, except in so far as 
is otherwise provided by this act : 

Rate of taxa- l^- Provided, That the rate of taxation in any one 
iircit'ies?'^'^*^' y^'*^^ s^^^^ "*^t exceed one dollar and fifty cents on every 
one hundred dollars of real estate not exempted by law ; 
and on personal property not taxable elsewhere, one 
dollar and fifty cents on every one hundred dollars, 
according to the cash valuation thereof: 

Katcoiagrkui- 20. And 2J'>'ovided further, Upon real property held 
in county. and used exclusively for agricultural purposes, without 
the limits of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, 
and to be so designated by the assessors in their annual 
returns, the rate for any one year shall not exceed one 
dollar on every one hundred dollars. 

foiieetorto 21. The collcctor of taxes, upon the receipt of the 

publish no- i n • • _p i 

tice of pay- duplicate of assessment, shall give notice tor one week, 

ment of tax- ^ i i- i i • i • t> -ixr i • 

es. in one newspaper published in the city ot Washington, 

that he is ready to receive taxes ; 

Deduction of 22. And any person who shall, within thirty days 

tax when , . . i . 

made. after such notice given, pay the taxes assessed against 

him, shall be allowed by the collector a deduction of 
five per centum on the amount of his tax ; 
t'pnaities^un- 93. All penalties imposed by the act approved March 

:•,, 1877, sus- third, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, chapter one 

pended. ' ^ i ,. f i r ^ • 

hundred and seventeen, upon delinquents for default in 
the payment of taxes levied under said act, at the times 



s[)ecifie(l thereiu, shall, upon payment of the said taxes '■*!;l!c^^'[i".:^.'"''' 
assessed against such deliucjuents within three months 
from the passage of this act, with interest at the rate of 
six per cent, thereon, be remitted. 

SECTION 4. 

1 . That the said Commissioners may, bv general regu- ^ffiy (tiesoTibe 

J ' - o D duties of as- 

lations consistent with the act of Congress of March sessorsand 

° ^ time of pay- 

third, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, entitled "An mentoftaxes* 

act for the support of the government of the District of 
Columbia for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, and for other pur- 
poses," or with other existing laws, prescribe the time 
or times for the payment of all taxes and the duties of 
assessors and collectors in relation thereto. 

2. All taxes collected shall be paid into the Treasury ^''l^^.j and how 
of the United States, and the same, as well as the ap- disbursed. 
propriations to be made by Congress as aforesaid, shall 

be disbursed for the expenses of said District, on item- 
ized vouchers, which shall have been audited and ap- 
proved by the auditor of the District of Columbia, 
certified by said Commissioners, or a majority of them ; 

3. And the accounts of said Commissioners, and the ah ac(3ounts 

n 1111 r,^ • 1 settled bv 

tax-collectors, and all other ofhcers required to account. Treasury De- 
shall be settled and adjusted by the accounting officers 
of the Treasury Department of the United States. 

4. Hereafter the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay ^"xl'lasury pay 
the interest on the three-sixty-five bonds of the District Gstonds'and 
of Columbia issued in pursuance of the act of Congress trunt^d""^ 
approved June twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
four, when the same shall become due and payable ; and 
all amounts so paid shall be credited as a part of the 
appropriation for the year by the United States toward 
the expenses of the District of Columbia, as hereinbe- 
fore provided. 



1 . That hereafter when any repairs of streets, avenues, costs for public 
alleys, or sewers within the District of Columbia are to pii?' &T 
be made, or when new pavements are to be substituted tised."''''''''' 



states. 



14 

in place of those worn out, new ones laid, or new streets 
opened, sewers built, or any works the total cost of 
which shall exceed the sum of one thousand dollars, 
notice shall be given in one newspaper in Washington, 
and if the total cost shall exceed five thousand dollars, 
then in one newspaper in each of the cities of New 
York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore also for one week, 
for proposals, with full specifications as to materials for 
the whole or any portion of the works proposed to be 
done; 

^lowes't'bidden 2. And the lowest responsible proposal for the kind 
and character of pavement or other work which the 
Commissioners shall determine upon shall in all cases 
be accepted : 

^TnJ^'retecTan ^- Provided, hoivever, That the Commissioners shall 
bids. have the right, in their discretion, to reject all of such 

proposals : 

^^s°aiKHvkie'd^^ ^- P''ovided, That work capable of being executed 
under a single contract shall not be subdivided so as to 
reduce the sum of money to be paid therefor to less than 
one thousand dollars. 

Contracts only ;)_ j^\\ contracts for the construction, improvement, 

made by the ^ , 

concurrence alteration, or repairs of the streets, avenues, highways, 

of all the ' ■• p Ti 

Commission- alleys, gutters, sewers, and all work of like nature 
shall be made and entered into only by and with the 
ofiicial unanimous consent of the Commissioners of the 
District, 

' vaiVd'uniess 6. And all contracts shall be copied in a book kept 
recorded. ^^^ ^j^^^ purpose and be signed by the said Commis- 
sioners, and no contract involving an expenditure of 
more than one hundred dollars shall be valid until re- 
corded and signed as aforesaid. 

Best material "J ^ j^q pavement shall be accepted nor any pavement 

and work to '- ... 

be used. laid exccpt that of the best material of its kind known 
for that purpose, laid in the most substantial manner ; 

Contracts se- S. And good and sufficient bonds to the United States, 

nafbonds.^'' in a penal sura not less than the amount of the contract, 

with sureties to be approved by the Commissioners of 



1.-) 

i 

the District of Columbia, shall be required from all '^\'j;,';';,;';;'J;y,„. 
coutractors, guarauteoiiig that the terms of their cou- f"'^- 
tracts shall be strictly and faithfully performed to the 
satisfaction of aud acceptance by said Commissioners ; 

9. Aud that the contractors shall keep new pavements ^"fegp'^vv" h- j,, 
or other new works in repair for a term of five years 'f p^'^'' *'^''' 
from the date of the completion of their contracts ; 

10. And ten per centum of the cost of all new works "fu^,.ther s"-'"^ 
shall be retained as an additional security aud a guar- set^'^ed- 
antee fund to keep the same in repair for said term, 

which said per centum shall be invested in registered 
bonds of the United States or of the District of Colum- 
bia and the interest thereon paid to said contractors. 

11. The cost of laying down said pavements, sewers, ^puifuc 'works 
and other works, or of repairing the same, shall be paid p'^"'' 

for in the following proportions aud manner, to wit : 
When any street or avenue through which a street rail- 
way runs shall be paved, such railway company shall 
bear all of the expense for that portion of the work ly- ^^^^ ^^^.^^^ 
ing between the exterior rails of the tracks of such railroad com- 

" _ _ panics. 

roads, aud for a distance of two feet from and exterior 
to such track or tracks on each side thereof, and of 
keeping the same in repair. 

12. But the said railway companies, having conformed Conimissioners 
to the grades established by the Commissioners, may tracks be 
use such cobblestone or Belgian blocks for paving their 

tracks, or the space between their tracks, as the Com- 
missioners may direct ; 

13. The United States shall pay one-half of the cost United states 

• • PI- pav half of all 

of all work done under the provisions of this section, costs under 
except that done by the railway companies, which pay- that done by 

, ,, , T 1 f 1 n n railroad com- 

ment shall be credited as part or the nity per centum panies. 

which the United States contributes toward the expenses 

of the District of Columbia for that year ; 

14. And all payments shall be made by the Secretary ^''J.i[J,°"of 'com 
of the Treasury on the] warrant or order of the Com- inissionersby 

^ _ ' Secretary of 

missioners of the District of Columbia, or a majority Treasury. 
thereof, in such amounts aud at such times as they may 
deem safe and proper in view of the progress of the 
work : 



16 

^work of street ^^- '^^^^ if ^^Y Street railway comiaauy shall neglect 

panie.s'\wrc?i! °^' ^efusc to i)erform the work required by this act, 

said pavemeut shall be laid between the tracks and 

exterior thereto of such railway by the District of 

Columbia; 

may issue l^i- Aud if such compauv shall fail or refuse to pay 

indebtedness the suin duc from them in respect of the work done by 
property!'*" ^^ "»der the orders of the proper officials of said Dis- 
trict in such case of the neglect or refusal of such rail- 
wa}' company to perform the work required as aforesaid, 
the Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall 
issue certificates of indebtedness against the property, 
real or personal, of such railway company, which certi- 
ficates shall bear interest at the rate of ten per centum 
per annum until paid, and which, until they are paid, 
shall remain and be a lien upon the property on or 
against which they are issued together with the franchise 
of said company ; 

*^*V'^ai''i°pi-opert*y 17. And if the said certificates are not paid within 
''°'''' one year, the said Commissioners of the District of Col- 

umbia may proceed to sell the property against which 
they are issued, or so much thereof as may be necessary 
to pay the amount due, such sale to be first duly adver- 
tised daily for one week in some newspaper published 
in the city of Washington, and to be at public auction 
to the highest bidder. 

Duties of rail- ;[§ When street railways cross any street or avenue, 

road com pa- •' *' _ 

nies where the pavement between the tracks of such railway shall 

tracks inter- ^ 

^e'^f- conform to the pavement used upon such street or ave- 

nue, and the companies owning these intersecting rail- 
roads shall pay for such pavements in the same manner 
and proportion as required of other railway companies 
under the provisions of this section. 

Water and gas 19. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the 

mains and . . r- /-^ -i ^ • i ii ^ 

pipes to be District 01 Columbia to see that ail water and gas mains, 
service pipes, and sewer connections are laid upon any 
street or avenue proposed to be paved or otherwise im- 
proved before any such pavement or other permanent 
works are put down ; 



laid, when. 



17 

20. And the Washiugtou Gas Light Company, under ^^^^^^'^fg^t 
the direction of said Commissioners, shall at its own ex- <'"mpany to 

' cure for its 

pense take up, lay, and replace all gas-mains on any mains, &c. 
street or avenue to be paved, at such time and place as 
said Commissioners shall direct. 

21. The President of the United States may detail '^^;;;;t'e"eng^' 
from the Engineer Corps of the Army not more than edfromarmy 
two officers, of rank subordinate to that of the Engi- 
neer officer belonging to the Board of Commissioners of 

said District to act as assistants to said Engineer Com- 
missioner, in the discharge of the special duties imposed 
upon him by the provisions of this act. 

SECTION 6. 

1. That from and after the first day of July, eighteen Metropolitan 

■J •/ ' o Police Board 

hundred and seventy-eight, the board of metropolitan ai'oiis^iied. 
police and the board of school trustees shall be abol- 
ished ; and all the powers and duties now exercised by 
them shall be transferred to the said Commissioners of 

-1 -nv i.' i>/-iii- • Board of Trus- 

the JJistnct 01 Columbia, who shall have authority to teesof Public 

. , ~, - Schools abol- 

employ such omcers and agents and to adopt such pro- ished. 
visions as may be necessary to carry into execution the 
powers and duties devolved upon them by this act. 

2. And the Commissioners of the District of Colum- ^^'ap^^^/inf t™^ 
bia shall from time to time appoint nineteen persons, sclfooL^"*^''" 
actual residents of said District of Columbia, to consti- 
tute the trustees of public schools of said District, who 

shall serve without compensation and for such terms as 
said Commissioners shall fix. Said trustees shall have 
the powers and perform the duties in relation to the care 
and management of the public schools which are now 
authorized by law. 

SECTION 7. 

That the offices of sinking-fund commissioners are siniiing fund 
hereby abolished ; and all duties and powers possessed ers abolished, 
by said commissioners are transferred to, and shall be fo^mcTi'^hy 
exercised by, the Treasurer of the United States, who u!&\*"'^'^° 
shall perform the same in accordance with the provisions 
of existing laws. 



18 

SECTION 8. 

"sifcceeded hy 'J-^h^t in lieu of the board of health uow authorized 
under control by law, the Commissioners of the District of Columbia 
sioners"^'""' shall appoint a physician as health-officer, whose duty 
it shall be, under the direction of the said Commission- 
ers, to execute and enforce all laws and regulations re- 
lating to the public health and vital statistics, and to 
perform all such duties as may be assigned to him by 
said Commissioners ; and the board of health now ex- 
isting shall, from the date of the appointment of said 
health-officer, be abolished. 

SECTION 9. 

^*i??r?J^'l^T,';,'? 1- That there may be appointed by the Commissioners 
tary inspec- ^^f ^j-jg District of Columbia, on the recommendation of 

tors of Dis- ' 

trict. ^ijg health-officer, a reasonable number of sanitary in- 

spectors for said District, not exceeding six, to hold such 
„ ^ . appointment at any one time, of whom two may be phy- 

.luiiiificatioii. siciaus, aud one shall be a person skilled in the matters 
of drainage and ventilation ; and said Commissioners 
may remove any of the subordinates, and from time to 
time may prescribe the duties of each ; 

Inspectors re- 2. And Said inspectors shall be respectively required 

port, how uud . , 

when. to make, at least once in two weeks, a report to said 

health-officer, in writing, of their inspections, which 
shall be preserved on file ; 

Heaith-ofiieer 3. And said health-officer shall report in writing an- 
te commis'^ nually to said Commissioners of the District of Colum- 
bia, and so much ofteuer as they shall require. 

SECTION 10. 

^^Offi*^'-^*^'^"^^ That the Commissioners may appoint, on the like 
recommendation of the health-officer, a reasonable num- 
ber of clerks, but no greater number shall be appointed, 
and no more persons shall be employed under said 
health-officer, than the public interests demand and the 
appropriation shall justify. 

SECTION 11. 

^Ifei'ith ^- '^^^^ ^^® salary of the health-officer shall be three 

officer. thousand dollars per annum ; 



10 

2. And the sahiiv of the sanitary inspectors shall not •'^■^"'''V-^'.'"" 

•' * spcctor s^ cnm- 

exceed the sum of" one thousand two hundred dollars **"ti"n- 
per annum each ; 

.'). And the salary of the clerks and other assistants salaries of 
of the health-officer shall not exceed in the aggregate 
the amount of seven thousand dollars, to be apportioned 
as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may 
deem best. - . 

SECTION 12. 

1. That it shall be the duty of the said Commissioners Coniniissi..iiois 

*' i-('liort to (oil- 

to report to Congress at the next session succeeding their s'^ss drafts 

. , . . . . "f law. 

appointment a draft of such additional laws or amend- 
ments to existing laws as in their opinion are necessary 
for the harmonious working of the system hereby adopt- 
ed, and for the effectual and proper government of the 
District of Columbia ; 

2. And said Commissioners shall annually report Report ami u- 

. .,., ^ ally their acts 

their official doings in. detail to Congress on or before in detail, 
the first Monday of December. 

SECTION 13. 

1. That there shall be no increase of the present Present debt of 

r, t I'll n t -r^- • -1 tl^e Disrict 

amount or the total indebteness ot the District of Col- not increased. 
umbia ; 

2. And any officer or person who shall knowingly in- penalty for in- 
crease, or aid or abet in increasing, such total indebted- ^leift^of Ihe^ 
uess, except to the amount of the two hundred thousand District. 
dollars, as authorized by this act, shall be deemed guilty 

of a high misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall 
be punished by imprisonment not exceeding ten years, 
and' by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars. 

SECTION 14. 

1. That the term "school-houses" in the act of June Actof .Juue 17 
seventeenth, eigteeen hundred and seventy, chapter strued?" 
thirty, was intended to embrace all collegiate establish- Revised stat- 
ments actually used for educational purposes, and not Columbia'''' 
for private gain ; section u't. 

2. And that all taxes heretofore imposed upon such ^ on^soiTooi "^'' 
establishments, in the District of Columbia, since the i"'"p*''*>'- 



20 

date of said act are hereby remitted, and where the same 
or any part thereof has been paid, the sum so paid shall 
be refunded. 

■^^ed? '^°* '"^^' •^- But if any portion of any said building, house, or 
grounds in terms excepted is used to secure a rent or in- 
come, or for any business purpose, such portion of the 
same, or a sum equal in value to such portion, shall be 
taxed. 

SECTION 15. 

Repealing That all laws inconsistent with the provisions of this 

clause. 

act be, and the same are hereby, repealed. 
Approved, June 11, 1878. 



